2017 AFL

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/17: Mesa won 8-5 Box Score

 

RF C. Burks 1/4, 2B (1), 2 RBI, K

2B D. Bote 2/5, 2 R, HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 K

1B J. Vosler 0/4, BB, 2 K

DH I. Rice 3/4, 2 R, 2 2B (3)

RP J. Stinnett 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 3-0 GO-FO, 42-23 pitches-strikes

[CaliforniaRaisin]

First AFL Hot Sheet: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/arizona-fall-league-hot-sheet-oct-16-2017/#7I7uilZu1beRQtuG.97

 

2. David Bote, 2B, Cubs

 

Team: Mesa

Age: 24

What he did: .500/.556/1.063 (8-for-16), 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 5 SO

 

The Scoop: Bote delivered career-highs of 30 doubles, 14 home runs and 59 RBIs this year at Double-A and is carrying his enhanced bat into the AFL. Bote homered in three of four games, notched a hit in all four, and reached base at least twice in all four. The 2012 18th-rounder has a track record of controlling the strike zone, showing solid bat speed and getting on base. The Cubs have had a run of bat-first second baseman come through the system, led by trade acquisition Tommy La Stella and followed by Bote and Chesny Young. Bote has more power than Young, making him the likely heir to La Stella’s role. His main question mark is on defense, and he’s in the AFL trying to improve his play at second base. (KG)

 

8. Adbert Alzolay, RHP, Cubs

 

Team: Mesa

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO

 

The Scoop: In an organization that needs pitching prospects, Alzolay's development this year has been crucial for the Cubs. He is yet to allow a hit or a walk in two AFL outings, spotting his plus fastball to both sides of the plate. Alzolay could return to Double-A Tennessee to open the 2018 season after making seven starts there this year, with a chance to help the big league club by the end of the season. (BB)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/18: Mesa lost 6-5 Box Score

 

RF C. Burks 1/5, K

2B D. Bote 2/3, R, BB

1B J. Vosler 2/3, R, HR (1), 3 RBI, BB

RP A. Alzolay 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 3-3 GO-FO, 24-15 pitches-strikes

RP P. Araujo 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO, 12-7 pitches-strikes

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/19: Mesa won 6-4 Box Score

 

SS D. Bote 0/3, R, BB, HBP, SB (1), E (1, fielding)

1B I. Rice 0/2, R, 3 BB, K

3B J. Vosler 1/3, R, 2B (1), 2 RBI, BB, K

[Tim]

In case anyone doesn't know of this page, here are the winter stats for all cubs minor leaguers in all leagues:

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=chc

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/20: Mesa won 7-6 on a walk-off Jason Vosler 2-run double Box Score

 

RF C. Burks 0/5, K

3B J. Vosler 1/5, 2B (2), 2 RBI, 2 K

1B I. Rice 2/4, RBI

 

Here's video of Vosler's walk-off extra base hit (officially recorded as a double in the box score):

 

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[Cubswin11]

Is this Vosler guy a thing? He seems to be getting hits every day.

[Tim]

Is this Vosler guy a thing? He seems to be getting hits every day.

He's a potential role player for us, but probably not a whole lot more.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Is this Vosler guy a thing? He seems to be getting hits every day.

He's a potential role player for us, but probably not a whole lot more.

 

Bote is way more interesting (as interesting as a backup infielder will get). He's higher up on the defensive food chain, better bat-to-ball skills. Both will walk. Vosler has more HR power but Bote hit 30 doubles and 14 HRs last year so he's no slouch.

[Tim]

Is this Vosler guy a thing? He seems to be getting hits every day.

He's a potential role player for us, but probably not a whole lot more.

 

Bote is way more interesting (as interesting as a backup infielder will get). He's higher up on the defensive food chain, better bat-to-ball skills. Both will walk. Vosler has more HR power but Bote hit 30 doubles and 14 HRs last year so he's no slouch.

Yep, totally agree

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Baseball America[/url]"]"It was a total buy-in sort of thing," Bote said. "I trusted them and I trusted their research … they are tireless in their work, so I trusted what they were saying. I bought in and I'm starting to see the fruits of it."

 

"In the second half he made some adjustments to his swing," Cruz said. "We wanted to create a little more lift in the swing. He's a guy who has an incredible exit velo. He's always consistently hitting the ball hard. His launch angle was low, and he was hitting the ball into the ground or low line drives. The focus was to get those balls in the air."

 

It helps that Cruz was assigned by the Cubs organization as one of the Solar Sox hitting coaches, allowing him to continue his work with Bote.

 

"He came to the Fall League with the intention of getting the ball up in the air and driving the ball," Cruz added, "and he's really done that."

[CaliforniaRaisin]

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[CaliforniaRaisin]

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[woodchip2153]

The gif was kind of choppy for me, but that is extremely impressive to hit a pitch that looked to be pretty far inside like that.

[JeffH]

The follow through looked a lot like Kris Bryant's.

[Hrubes20]

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Dude had a Sammy hop.

[We Got The Whole 9]

The elite EV comment got me all perky

[David]

First AFL Hot Sheet: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/arizona-fall-league-hot-sheet-oct-16-2017/#7I7uilZu1beRQtuG.97

 

2. David Bote, 2B, Cubs

 

Team: Mesa

Age: 24

What he did: .500/.556/1.063 (8-for-16), 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 5 SO

 

The Scoop: Bote delivered career-highs of 30 doubles, 14 home runs and 59 RBIs this year at Double-A and is carrying his enhanced bat into the AFL. Bote homered in three of four games, notched a hit in all four, and reached base at least twice in all four. The 2012 18th-rounder has a track record of controlling the strike zone, showing solid bat speed and getting on base. The Cubs have had a run of bat-first second baseman come through the system, led by trade acquisition Tommy La Stella and followed by Bote and Chesny Young. Bote has more power than Young, making him the likely heir to La Stella’s role. His main question mark is on defense, and he’s in the AFL trying to improve his play at second base. (KG)

 

8. Adbert Alzolay, RHP, Cubs

 

Team: Mesa

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO

 

The Scoop: In an organization that needs pitching prospects, Alzolay's development this year has been crucial for the Cubs. He is yet to allow a hit or a walk in two AFL outings, spotting his plus fastball to both sides of the plate. Alzolay could return to Double-A Tennessee to open the 2018 season after making seven starts there this year, with a chance to help the big league club by the end of the season. (BB)

 

this is both a really weird place to mention tommy lastella and not mention ian happ.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If Chesny Young is a bat first second baseman, then every second baseman who plays well enough to not get benched/platooned in the minor leagues is a bat first second baseman.

[Post Count Padder]

I don't get why people think Chesny Young is any good. Plus that mustache.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Yeah but he'll end up being the next Lemahieu somehow

[Cubswin11]

I don't get why people think Chesny Young is any good. Plus that mustache.

His name is the same as the country singer, that’s all I got

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Adbert Alzolay, Jake Stinnett and David Bote made the AFL all-Star team (there's a cap of 3 players from each major league team).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Adbert Alzolay made this week's AFL Hot Sheet:

 

Baseball America[/url]"]7. Adbert Alzolay, RHP, Cubs

Team: Mesa

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 2.25, 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 SO, 2 BB

 

The Scoop: In a Cubs system thinned out due to trades of top prospects like Gleyber Torres, Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease, Alzolay has risen near the top thanks to a breakout season. With a sped-up delivery and a mid-90s fastball, Alzolay finished third in the Cubs' organization with a 2.99 ERA between high Class A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee and struck out a career-best 108 hitters. He's allowed just three hits over 10 innings (a span of five outings) in the AFL thus far, and he didn't until his first hit until his fourth appearance.

[CyHawk_Cub]

He's likely a bullpen arm, right? I mean, seems like all he's got is the fastball. None of his secondary pitches seems to be even big league average.